Tetter



NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

RANSOM G. BALDIVIN, OF OSKALOOSA, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO B. F. HOS- TETTER, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SIEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,026, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed May 9, 1881. (ModeL) To all whom ct may concern:

Be it known that I, RANSOM Gr. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top-plan view of the washing-machine with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the agitator. Fig. at is a detail view, partly in section,showing the manner of connecting the cross-arms to the revolving shaft.

The present invention relates to that class of washing-machines in which the tub or other receptacle for the clothes is provided upon its interior with projecting cleats or rollers,

against which the clothes are forced by a rotary agitator or series of beater-arms connected to a rotary shaft passing through the cover or lid of the machine.

The invention is designed as an improvement upon my former patent granted February 8, 1881, No. 237 ,465, the details of construction of said improvement being fully shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described.

Intheaccompanyingdrawings, A represents the suds box or receptacle, of any desirable shape and dimensions.

I'Vithin the box A, upon its four sides, are arranged suitable frames, B, secured to the sides or bottom of the box by screws or other suitable fastenings to hold them stationary, but admitting of their removal when required.

To the frames B are pivoted a series of slats, a, their outer edges projecting beyond the frames, and the slats are held in position by a locking-bar, C. It should be noticed that the slats a are pivoted at their outer edges, to enable them, when required, to be swung around parallel with or folded against the sides of the box A; hence it will be seen that they are unlike the pivoted rollers or bars heretofore employed, which are simply intended to be so pivoted as to revolve upon their own axis, and not adapted to be swung around out of contact with the clothes, This bar (J is formed with notches b, to fit over the top of each slat a, and is held down upon the same by button 0, pivoted to the top of the frame B, each of said frames having a like locking-bar. This construction enables the machine to adapt itself to the various classes of fabrics to be washed.

Should the fabrics be of such texture that there would be danger of injuring them by too great a friction, one or more of the slats a may be dispensed with. This is accomplished by removing the locking-bars G, and closing or turning in against the sides of the box A the desired number of slats and replacing the bar. Thereby all the slats may be brought into use, or any desired number of the series, as deemed necessary.

In case of cleaning and renovating carpets, or where it is found desirable to increase the interior dimensions of the suds-box A, the frames B, with their attachments, may be removed, thus adapting it ,for washing bedclothing and large pieces of fabric Where they do not require any great degree of rubbing.

The lid or cover D may rest on cleats secured to the interior sides of the box A, or it may be hinged thereto, as found most convenient. I

The lidD has bolted or otherwise connected to it a plate, E, which is cast with a standard, d, and to this plate is attached a standard, 0, having a horizontal arm, f, said standard 6 with its arm being detachably connected to the plate E. The standards 61 6 form bearings for a journal, 9, which has keyed to it a suitable bevel-gear wheel, 71-, the teeth thereof meshing with the teeth upon a horizontal bevelwheel, t. This wheel i is rigidly connected to a vertical shaft, k, the upper end having its bearings in the arm f, said shaft passing through the cover or lid D, and is caused to rotate by the gear-wheels h z, the former having a suitable handle for operating it.

To the lower end of the shaft his connected a plate, Z, having four holes at its corners to receive the ends of pins m, connected to a plate, a, between which plates are clamped the cross-arms F, said arms having connected to theirends wooden pegs p.

The end of the shaft 70 passes through both the plates and cross-arms, and the lower plate is firmly clamped and held against the cross-arms by a nut, r, engaging with the screw-threaded end of the shaft, a shoulder, 8, upon the shaft above the plate 1 holding the latter from being pressed or forced up on the shaft in the process of clamping.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A washing-machine provided upon its interior with a series of slats pivoted at their outer edges to a suitable frame-work or support, and adapted to be folded against or parallel with the sides of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a washing-machine, the frames B, havin g slats a pivoted thereto at their outer edges, in combination with the locking-bar 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A washing-machine provided with removable frames B, said frames having slats a pivoted thereto at their outer edges, so as to adapt them to be folded against or swung around parallel with the sides of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a washing-machine, the shaft k, hav-' ing a shoulder, r, and screw-threaded at its lower end, and the cross-arms F, in combination with the plates tn, the latter having pins m, which pass through holes in the plate I, and the clamping-nut s, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

RANSOM G. BALDWIN.

Witnesses J. M. HERRON, F. O. LOFLAND. 

